Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner, 22, withdrew from the Paris Olympics on Wednesday due to tonsillitis. Sinner won the Australian Open in January for his first Grand Slam title, and moved up to No. 1 in the ATP rankings last month after reaching the French Open semifinals.

The Italian tennis superstar, ranked No. 1 in the world, posted on social media that a doctor advised him that he should sit out the Summer Games, just days before matches are scheduled to begin.  Sinner wrote (in Italian): “I am saddened to inform you that, unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris. After a good week of training on clay, I started to feel unwell. I spent a couple of days resting, and during the visit, the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing. Missing the Games is a huge disappointment since it was one of my main goals for this season. I was looking forward to having the honor of representing my country in this very important event. A big good luck to all the Italian athletes that I will be supporting from home. Forza Italia.”

Sinner’s withdrawal from the Olympic Games means that Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be the top-seeded men, setting up a potential gold medal rematch of the Wimbledon final.  Spain’s Alcaraz, 21, claimed his fourth Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon this month by beating Serbian Djokovic, 37.  It was the second consecutive year that Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the final at the All England Club. Sinner was eliminated from Wimbledon in the quarterfinals.

The Summer Games tennis competition will be held at Roland Garros, the site of the annual French Open Grand Slam tournament.  Sinner will be replaced on Italy’s team by 207th-ranked Andrea Vavassori in singles and by Luciano Darderi in doubles alongside Lorenzo Musetti.

The draw ceremony for the tennis tournament will be held Thursday in Paris. The competition will be held from Saturday to Aug. 4 at Roland Garros.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com